Men exist for the sake of one another.

Hear the solemn wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, emperor and philosopher, who in his solitude among the camps and councils of Rome wrote: “Men exist for the sake of one another.” At once, this is a call to duty, a hymn to unity, and a rebuke of selfishness. For Aurelius, steeped in the teachings of the Stoics, knew that life is not given to each man to hoard for himself, but to be woven into the fabric of humanity, where each soul supports and sustains the other.

The Stoics taught that the universe is ordered by reason, that each person is a limb of a greater body. Just as the hand cannot live apart from the arm, so no man can live apart from his fellow beings. To exist is to belong, and to belong is to serve. Aurelius, though draped in purple and crowned with empire, recognized that even an emperor is but a part of the whole, bound by the same duty as the lowest soldier or the humblest farmer. His greatness lay not in conquest, but in this humble recognition: that we exist not for ourselves, but for one another.

History itself bears witness to this truth. When the great plague struck Rome, many fled in terror, abandoning the sick to die. Yet others—citizens unnamed, servants and slaves alike—remained behind to tend to the afflicted, at risk of their own lives. It was their courage, their willingness to exist “for the sake of one another,” that preserved communities from collapse. What armies could not achieve, compassion did. Their selflessness outshone the monuments of emperors and generals, for it proved that the survival of humanity rests not on power, but on mutual care.

The same truth appears in every age. Think of the firemen who rushed into the burning towers on September 11, 2001, knowing they might never return. They did not act for glory, nor for reward, but because the lives of strangers were bound to their own. In that moment, the ancient words of Marcus Aurelius were made flesh once more: men exist for the sake of one another. Their sacrifice, like that of countless unnamed souls throughout history, reminds us that the noblest act of existence is to give it for others.

But Aurelius’s teaching is not only about great moments of sacrifice. It speaks also to the daily rhythms of life. A kind word to a weary friend, patience with a child, honesty in trade, fairness in judgment—all are acts of living for one another. Without them, society collapses into selfishness and mistrust. With them, even empires torn by strife can endure. To serve others is not weakness; it is the truest strength, the foundation upon which all civilization stands.

The lesson for us is clear: do not live as though you were an island, cut off and self-sufficient. Seek ways to serve. Look not only to your own gain, but to the good of others. In your work, remember who it helps. In your words, consider who they heal or harm. In your choices, ask whether they strengthen the whole or weaken it. For your life is not your own alone—it is a thread in the great tapestry of humankind, and its meaning is found in how it binds with others.

Therefore, O children of tomorrow, take this wisdom to heart: existence without service is emptiness, but existence for others is eternal. Strive to live so that when your days are done, it may be said of you that you did not hoard your life, but poured it out as a gift. For this is the law of the universe, the duty of each soul, and the path to lasting greatness: to live, as Marcus Aurelius declared, for the sake of one another.